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University of North Carolina Athletics
Matt Constant
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Three Tar Heels Go In MLS Superdraft
January 22, 2021 | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL–Three University of North Carolina players were selected in the 2021 Major League Soccer Superdraft, held on Thursday.
Defender Matt Constant went as the No. 23 pick in the second round (No. 50 overall) to Sporting KC. Defender Mark Salas went 22nd in the third round (No. 76 overall) to FC Dallas, and forward Giovanni Montesdeoca later joined him with FC Dallas as the 25th pick in the third-round pick (No. 79 overall).
Highlighted by a dozen first-round selections, 25 ACC men's soccer players were selected Thursday in the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The 25 selections are by far the most ACC picks in the SuperDraft, besting the previous record of 18, set twice previously. In all, players from 11 ACC programs represented exactly one-third of the 75 total draft picks Thursday.
The ACC's total of 12 first-round selections stands as the most ever from one conference in the MLS SuperDraft, topping the ACC's previous record of eight, set in 2016, 2018 and 2020. The ACC's total this year was quadruple that of any other conference.
For the first time in SuperDraft history, players from ACC schools were chosen with each of the first five picks. Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira was chosen No. 1 overall by the expansion Austin FC. It marks the second straight year that an ACC program had a player selected No. 1 overall, after Clemson's Robbie Robinson was picked No. 1 by Inter Miami last season. It also marked the eighth No. 1 pick for a current ACC school.
Pereira was immediately followed in the draft by Wake Forest's Calvin Harris (second, FC Cincinnati), Clemson's Philip Mayaka (third, Colorado), Clemson's Kimarni Smith (fourth, D.C. United) and Wake Forest's Michael DeShields (fifth, D.C. United).
Seven other players with ACC ties went in the first round: Virginia's Bret Halsey (seventh, Real Salt Lake), Syracuse's Luther Archimede (13th, New York Red Bulls), Wake Forest's Justin McMaster (17th, Minnesota), Virginia's Irakoze Donasiyano (20th, Nashville), Duke's Aedan Stanley (21st, Austin FC), former Pitt forward Edward Kizza (24th, New England) and Clemson's Justin Malou (27th, Columbus).
Nine ACC players were chosen in the second round, while four more were picked in the third round.
Pereira, Harris, Mayaka and Halsey each signed Generation adidas contracts ahead of the SuperDraft. Generation adidas players and others who sign contracts will join their MLS clubs for the 2021 preseason. Draftees who do not sign contracts may compete for their college team during the Spring 2021 semester before reporting to their MLS clubs in late May.
Defender Matt Constant went as the No. 23 pick in the second round (No. 50 overall) to Sporting KC. Defender Mark Salas went 22nd in the third round (No. 76 overall) to FC Dallas, and forward Giovanni Montesdeoca later joined him with FC Dallas as the 25th pick in the third-round pick (No. 79 overall).
Highlighted by a dozen first-round selections, 25 ACC men's soccer players were selected Thursday in the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The 25 selections are by far the most ACC picks in the SuperDraft, besting the previous record of 18, set twice previously. In all, players from 11 ACC programs represented exactly one-third of the 75 total draft picks Thursday.
The ACC's total of 12 first-round selections stands as the most ever from one conference in the MLS SuperDraft, topping the ACC's previous record of eight, set in 2016, 2018 and 2020. The ACC's total this year was quadruple that of any other conference.
For the first time in SuperDraft history, players from ACC schools were chosen with each of the first five picks. Virginia Tech midfielder Daniel Pereira was chosen No. 1 overall by the expansion Austin FC. It marks the second straight year that an ACC program had a player selected No. 1 overall, after Clemson's Robbie Robinson was picked No. 1 by Inter Miami last season. It also marked the eighth No. 1 pick for a current ACC school.
Pereira was immediately followed in the draft by Wake Forest's Calvin Harris (second, FC Cincinnati), Clemson's Philip Mayaka (third, Colorado), Clemson's Kimarni Smith (fourth, D.C. United) and Wake Forest's Michael DeShields (fifth, D.C. United).
Seven other players with ACC ties went in the first round: Virginia's Bret Halsey (seventh, Real Salt Lake), Syracuse's Luther Archimede (13th, New York Red Bulls), Wake Forest's Justin McMaster (17th, Minnesota), Virginia's Irakoze Donasiyano (20th, Nashville), Duke's Aedan Stanley (21st, Austin FC), former Pitt forward Edward Kizza (24th, New England) and Clemson's Justin Malou (27th, Columbus).
Nine ACC players were chosen in the second round, while four more were picked in the third round.
Pereira, Harris, Mayaka and Halsey each signed Generation adidas contracts ahead of the SuperDraft. Generation adidas players and others who sign contracts will join their MLS clubs for the 2021 preseason. Draftees who do not sign contracts may compete for their college team during the Spring 2021 semester before reporting to their MLS clubs in late May.
DRAFTED: Tar Heel Matt Constant is headed to @SportingKC!#ProHeels | 🐏⚽️ pic.twitter.com/VFsMCi5gy1
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) January 21, 2021
Carolina's Mark Salas is heading to @FCDallas!#ProHeels #mlssuperdraft2021 | 🐏⚽️ pic.twitter.com/kAWaTjv1GR
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) January 21, 2021
Giovanni Montesdeoca is heading to @FCDallas to join fellow Tar Heel Mark Salas!
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) January 21, 2021
CONGRATS.#mlssuperdraft2021 #ProHeels | 🐏⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4RxS2Xggzf
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